Interface device for a gliding board

ABSTRACT

An interface device to be positioned between a gliding board, such as a ski, and at least one boot-retaining element, as well as a gliding apparatus that includes such device. The interface device includes: a right lateral arm including a lower surface that can be positioned on the gliding board; a left lateral arm arranged parallel to the right lateral arm and including a lower surface that can be positioned on the gliding board; the right lateral arm and the left lateral arm being used for supporting and fastening the at least one of retaining elements on the gliding board; and including a bridging section arranged between the right lateral arm and the left lateral arm. The bridging section is higher than the lower surface of the right lateral arm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application No. 06.01888, filed on Mar. 2, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an interface device between a gliding board and a binding element for a boot that is mounted on the gliding board. The invention also relates to a gliding board equipped with such an interface device.

2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

Interface devices between an element for retaining a boot and a gliding board, such as between a binding and a ski, are known from the prior art. They are especially used to isolate the retaining elements from the gliding board and to enable the boot to be elevated. They are also used to allow the position of the retaining elements to be adjusted with respect to the gliding board. Furthermore, they are often designed so that the retaining elements hinder the flexion of the ski as little as possible.

The document DE 100 63 923 discloses an interface device adapted to receive front and rear binding elements. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 of this document, the interface device is made of two separate parallel rails arranged on a gliding board, and on which the front and rear binding elements can slide. A problem with such a construction is the deformation of the gliding board in torsion along its longitudinal axis. The torsional moments exerted on the longitudinal axis are conventionally referred to as Mx moments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an interface device between an element for retaining a boot and a gliding board, which makes it possible to overcome the limitations of the devices known from the prior art. More particularly, the invention provides an interface device between an element for retaining a boot and a gliding board, which raises the boot, does not change the behavior of the gliding board, particularly in flexion, and improves the behavior of the gliding board, particularly the resistance to deformation of the gliding board against the forces that cause torsional moments along its longitudinal axis (Mx), thereby enabling a precise steering of the gliding board and a better grip over its entire length, while enhancing the reactive capabilities of the gliding board.

In addition, the invention provides an interface device that makes it possible to quickly mount the retaining elements on the gliding board.

Further, the invention provides an interface device that improves the dynamic behavior of the gliding board when subjected to forces tending to bend and/or twist the board.

More particularly, the invention provides for an interface device between a gliding board and a boot-retaining element, such device including the following:

-   -   a right lateral arm having a lower surface that can be         positioned on the gliding board;     -   a left lateral arm arranged parallel to the right lateral arm         and having a lower surface that can be positioned on the gliding         board;     -   the right lateral arm and left lateral arm are used to support         and to fix at least one retaining element on the gliding board;     -   a bridging section is positioned between the right lateral arm         and the left lateral arm.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the interface device includes a front portion having two lateral arms, and a rear portion having a piece mostly constituted of a single main element.

According to a particular optional detail, the bridging section is higher than the lower surface of the right lateral arm.

According to another optional detail, the thickness of the bridging section in a particular embodiment is less than 40% of the value of the total thickness of the interface device.

According to a further optional detail, the lower surface of the bridging section has, together with the lower surface of the interface device, a non-zero height, so that the lower surface of the bridging section is not in contact with the upper surface of the gliding board.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the front portion of the interface device includes a raising platform and a stiffener, the stiffener being positioned beneath the raising platform and also used for distributing the pressures exerted by the ski on the snow. The raising platform includes two parallel arms, on each of which is arranged a rail used for fastening the retaining elements, a bridging section connecting the two arms for improving the resistance to deformation of the gliding board/interface device assembly, when such assembly is subjected to transverse forces with respect to the longitudinal plane of the gliding board. The bridging section can be part of the stiffener and comprise a raised portion of the stiffener.

The stiffener of the invention modifies only slightly the dynamic behavior of the gliding board because of the following: its length; its relative thinness with respect to the raising platform; it is made of a denser material than that of the raising platform; and because it is positioned beneath the raising platform, that is, as near to the upper surface of the gliding board as possible and, therefore, as near to the neutral axis of the gliding board as possible. The raising platform should have a minimal effect on the behavior of the ski despite having a more substantial thickness than that of the stiffener.

The stiffener, and therefore the bridging section, can be made of a more noble material than the raising platform, such as aluminum, or a composite material, whereas the raising platform can be made of plastic material. The stiffener can also be made of a more rigid plastic material having a higher density than the plastic material used to make the raising platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the interface device of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 to 8 are cross-sectional views of alternative constructions of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the interface device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the stiffener of the interface device of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a ski provided with an interface device according to the prior art. Two lateral parallel rails anchored to the ski, are used to fasten the front and rear retaining elements, that is, the toe piece and the heel piece, which are shown in broken lines in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows an interface device according to a first embodiment of the invention. The interface device 51 includes a front portion 91 and a rear portion 101. The rear portion 101 is constituted as a solid interface, meaning that the two lateral rails form a unitary piece, which is a raising piece made by plastic injection molding. The rear portion 101 is fixed to the gliding board by four screws.

In order to prevent the rear portion 101 from hindering the flexion of the gliding board, the two rear screws 25 of the rear portion 101 are movable in longitudinal translation with respect to the rear portion 101, whereas the two front screws 24 are fixed.

For the rear screws 25 to be movable in translation with respect to the rear portion 101, they are positioned in a slide 26, which can move in translation in a housing extending through the end of the rear portion 101. The slide 26 includes a block 37 topped by a plate 27, the lateral wings of the plate being supported on the rear rails 28 of the rear portion 101.

The two rear rails 28 extend longitudinally over the entire length of the rear portion 101. The rear rails 28 are used for adjustably positioning the rear retaining element, which includes, at its base, a plate adapted to slide on the rear rails 28.

The front portion 91 includes two lateral arms 151, 161 that are independent of one another. Each of the arms 151, 161 includes a plurality of notches 141, which prevent the front portion 91 from hindering the flexing movements of the gliding board. The front portion 91 is fixed to the gliding board by a plurality of pins 17, or dowels, which are glued in holes provided in the gliding board. Screws or other expedient allowing the front portion 91 to be affixed to the ski, could alternatively be used instead of pins.

The front portion 91 is made by plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the front portion could be made from other materials as well as with other methods of manufacture.

Each of the lateral arms 151, 161 of the front portion 91 includes a front rail 29, which longitudinally extends over its entire length. As for the previously described rear rails 28, the front rails 29 are used for positioning the front retaining element on the interface device.

The interface device 51 according to the first embodiment of the invention also includes a blade 30 used for longitudinally blocking the front and rear retaining elements on the front and rear rails.

A bridging section 231 is positioned between the two lateral arms 151, 161. This bridging section includes three projections 35 on each of its lateral edges. The projections 35 of the right lateral edge are inserted in the corresponding slots 36 horizontally arranged in the right lateral arm 151, whereas the projections 35 of the left lateral arm 161 are inserted inside the corresponding slots 36 horizontally arranged in the left lateral arm 161. Preferably, the slots 36 are slightly longer than the projections 35 so as to allow for a sliding movement of a certain amplitude of the bridging section 231 with respect to the front portion 91.

The number of projections, such as projections 35, is non-limiting, and a bridging section having one, two, four or more projections on each of its lateral edges can be used.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 2. The bridging section 231 has a thickness E₃ that is relatively small with respect to the thickness of the interface device. The thickness E₃ of the bridging section is less than 40% of the total thickness of the interface device. The surface of the bridging section 231 has a height H3 with respect to the base surface of the lateral arms 151, 161, that is, with respect to the upper surface of the gliding board on which the interface device is positioned. The lower surface of the bridging section 231 has a height H4 with respect to the base surface of the lateral arms 151, 161. The height H4 is non-null, i.e., greater than zero. Therefore, the lower surface of the bridging section is not in contact with the upper surface of the gliding board. The bridging section 231 allows forces having a transverse component with respect to the longitudinal plane of the gliding board to be transmitted, i.e., strengthening the interface device and the ski or gliding board to which it is attached in torsion, thereby reducing torsional deformation of the interface device and of the gliding board.

The bridging section 231 is made of aluminum or any other material that is sufficiently rigid to fulfill its function relating to strengthening the interface and gliding board in torsion. It can alternatively be made of plastic material, fiber (glass, carbon, etc).

An alternative version of the first embodiment of the invention includes a rear portion made according to the front portion, meaning that it includes two independent arms connected together by a bridging section.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 show cross-sectional views of alternative versions the first embodiment of the invention, showing that the bridging section can be configured differently. In this regard, the heights H3, H4 can be varied, as well as the shape of the bridging section and, possibly, the shapes of the arms 151, 161 in the area of attachment to the bridging section.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the invention. The interface device 52 includes a front portion 92 and a rear portion 102. The rear portion 102 is constructed as a conventional interface, meaning a raising element made by plastic injection molding. The rear portion 102 is fixed to the gliding board by four screws.

In order to prevent the rear portion 102 from hindering the flexion of the ski board, the two rear screws 25 of the rear portion 102 are movable in longitudinal translation with respect to the rear portion 102, whereas the two front screws 24 are fixed.

For the rear screws 25 to be movable in translation with respect to the rear portion 102, they are positioned in a slide 26, which can move in translation in a housing extending through the end of the rear portion 102. The slide 26 includes a block 37 topped by a plate 27, the lateral wings of which are supported on the rear rails 28 of the rear portion 102.

The rear portion 102 includes two rear rails 28, which extend longitudinally over its entire length. In a known manner, the rear rails are used for positioning the rear retaining element, which includes, at its base, a plate provided to slide on the rear rails 28.

The front portion 92 includes a longitudinal stiffener 82 and a raising platform 72. The raising platform. 72 includes two lateral arms 152, 162, connected to one another by their end that is the nearest to the rear portion 102. The raising platform 72 includes an average thickness of about 10 mm. The thickness diminishes toward the front of the raising platform and slightly augments toward the rear of the platform. A 10-mm thickness is a non-limiting characteristic of the invention, and raising platforms could have greater or lesser thicknesses, depending upon the gliding board onto which the interface device is fixed and depending upon the sport that is envisioned, including slalom skiing, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, freeride skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, telemarking, off-track skiing, and others.

Each of the right and left arms 152, 162 includes a plurality of notches 142, which prevent the raising platform 72 from hindering the flexing movements of the gliding board. The raising platform is fixed to the gliding board due to a plurality of pins 17, or dowels, which are glued in holes provided in the gliding board. Screws could alternatively be used instead of pins.

The stiffener 82, in a particular embodiment, is constituted by an aluminum plate with a thickness of about 1 mm. The plate includes openings 18 provided to be traversed by the pins 17 of the raising platform 72. The stiffener is therefore fixed to the gliding board via the raising platform 72.

The stiffener 82 could also be thicker than 1 mm, and particularly have a non-constant thickness, and possibly have shapes and bosses allowing for adjusting its rigidity.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the front portion 92 of the interface device 152. This drawing shows that the thickness E₂ of the raising platform 72 is greater than the thickness E₁ of the stiffener 82.

The stiffener 82 includes a first planar, or flat, portion 19, which is provided to rest on the gliding board, and which supports the right lateral arm 152 of the raising platform 72, as well as a second planar, or flat, portion 20, which is provided to rest on the gliding board, and which supports the left lateral arm 162.

The stiffener 82 includes two secant portions 21, which extend each of the first and second planar portions 19, 20 outward, and form, with the first and second planar portions, an angle α that is equal to 90°, or substantially equal to 90°.

The first planar portion 19 and the second planar portion 20 are connected to one another by a bridging section 232, which is raised with respect to the planar portions 19, 20. In other words, if the height of the upper surface of the first and second planar portions 19 and 20 with respect to the upper surface of the gliding board equals H₁, then the height of the upper surface of the bridging section 232 is H₂, which is greater than H₁. The thickness E₄ of the bridging section 232 is relatively small with respect to the overall thickness of the interface device, which is equal to “E₁+E₂”. In the present case, the thickness E₄ is substantially equal to E₁. The lower surface of the bridging section 232 has a height H₅ with respect to the lower surface of the interface device. The height H₅ is not equal to zero. Thus, the lower surface of the bridging section 232 is not in contact with the upper surface of the gliding board.

Raising the bridging section 232 with respect to the planar portions 19, 20 increases the torsional strength of the interface device.

Furthermore, each of the right and left arms 152, 162 takes support onto the bridging section 232, which improves the hold of the interface device when the retaining elements, which are fixed thereto, are subjected to forces having a transverse component with respect to the longitudinal plane of the gliding board.

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the stiffener 82, where the bridging section 232 can be seen only in the central zone of the stiffener. The two planar portions 19 and 20 are also connected to one another at the rear end of the stiffener 82. The two planar portions could be connected to one another over their entire length. In addition to the openings 18, the stiffener 82 is also traversed by weight-reducing cut-outs 31.

The raising platform 72 includes two front rails 29 that extend longitudinally over its entire length. As with the rear rails 28 previously described, the front rails 29 are used for positioning the front retaining element on the interface device.

The interface device 52 according to the second embodiment of the invention also includes a blade 30 used for longitudinally locking the front and rear retaining elements on the front and rear rails.

The invention is not limited to the several embodiments described hereinabove by way of examples, but also covers any equivalent embodiment. More particularly, although only interface devices equipped with rails onto which the retaining elements can slide, allowing their position to be adjusted, have been described here, the invention can just as well be applied to interface devices for which the retaining elements are fixed by screws or by any other fixing mechanism.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

-   1—gliding board -   2—front retaining element -   3—rear retaining element -   17—pin -   18—opening -   19—first planar portion -   20—second planar portion -   21—secant portion -   24—front screw -   25—rear screw -   26—slide -   27—plate -   28—rear rails -   29—front rails -   30—blade -   31—lightening cut-out -   35—projection -   36—slot -   37—block -   51, 52—interface device -   82—stiffener -   72—raising platform -   91, 92—front portion -   101,102—rear portion -   141, 142—notches -   151, 152—right lateral arm -   161, 162—left lateral arm -   231, 232—bridging section 

1. An interface device adapted to be positioned between a gliding board and at least one boot-retaining element, said interface device comprising: a right lateral arm having a lower surface to be positioned on the gliding board; a left lateral arm arranged parallel to said right lateral arm, said left lateral arm having a lower surface to be positioned on the gliding board; said right lateral arm and said left lateral arm being structured and arranged to have at least one boot-retaining element supported and fastened to the gliding board; a bridging section extending from said right lateral arm to said left lateral arm.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein: said bridging section is higher than said lower surface of said right lateral arm.
 3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising: a raising platform comprising: a thickness; an upper surface having at least one zone for receiving said boot-retaining element; a lower surface a planar longitudinal stiffener comprising a thickness less than the thickness of said raising platform; said stiffener being positioned beneath the raising platform; said bridging section being integral with said longitudinal stiffener.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein: said right lateral arm comprises a rail; said left lateral arm comprises a rail; and said rails of said right and left lateral arms being structured and arranged for having said boot-retaining element mounted for sliding on said rails.
 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein: said longitudinal stiffener comprises a first planar portion, said first planar portion being sandwiched between said raising platform and the upper surface of the gliding board; and said planar portion is adapted to be parallel to the upper surface of the gliding board.
 6. A gliding apparatus comprising: a gliding board; an interface device adapted to be positioned between a gliding board and at least one boot-retaining element, said interface device comprising: a right lateral arm having a lower surface to be positioned on the gliding board; a left lateral arm arranged parallel to said right lateral arm, said left lateral arm having a lower surface to be positioned on the gliding board; said right lateral arm and said left lateral arm being structured and arranged to have at least one boot-retaining element supported and fastened to the gliding board; a bridging section extending from said right lateral arm to said left lateral arm.
 7. A gliding apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a front retaining element; and a rear retaining element; at least one of said retaining elements being fastened to said interface device. 